PM Barak- Time of Decision with Palestinians at Hand-07-Oct-2000

PM Barak: Time of Decision with Palestinians at Hand (Communicated by the Prime Minister’s Media Adviser)

At the start of the Cabinet meeting tonight (Sunday), 7.10.2000, Prime Minister and Defense Minister Ehud Barak described the new situation and said that there is the potential for a major escalation. He emphasized that the moment of decision with the Palestinians is at hand and added that Israel must act determinedly and with coordination, knowing that our ability to act will influence our future. "There will yet be in this struggle more difficult moments but we will be victorious because we are right and because we are stronger," the Prime Minister said.

Prime Minister Barak added that Israel’s policy in the past year has exposed the face of reality and, given the diplomatic timetable which was dictated in advance, there was no alternative to this. "If we had not taken the policy we did and we found ourselves facing an impasse and deterioration today, we would not be able to look each other in the eyes," the Prime Minister said.

Prime Minister Barak updated the ministers on the events that have taken place since their previous meeting – Joseph’s Tomb, the Temple Mount and the kidnapping of the three soldiers.

The Cabinet, sitting as the Ministerial Committee on Security Affairs, was briefed by senior security establishment officials.